26 people forsook the evening’s rugby to come to Jocelyn’s in Meadowbank to see the results of this years ABTC photo competition, and take an armchair journey to Preservation Inlet in the remote part of Fiordland with Alasdair Nicoll. The evening began with the display of the finalists in the photo competition, and an opportunity for members to vote on the Members’ Choice section. At 7:30pm we went into the lounge to tramp with Alasdair to Fiordland. In February this year Alasdair went as one of a group of six on a DOC volunteer "holiday" or gratifaction, where volunteers go away for about one week and help with conservation work projects while paying for their transport and food with their own Money. Alasdair’s group was laying stoat traps along Otago Retreat and Coal Island at Preservation Inlet. They flew in by helicopter from Lake Hauroko near Tuatapere over the scenic Fiordland mountaintops to land at a lodge on the Otago Retreat foreshore. It was tough work at times laying the traps along tracks that ranged from old tramlines to steep climbs. There was plenty to see - a sea elephant, spectacular coastal rock formations, wild flowers and birds, and relics from the old whaling and gold mining settlement of the 19th century.   We enjoyed a pot-luck supper afterwards, and Leila shared briefly about her recent outreach trip to Turkey with Operation Mobilisation.

On the supper table were arranged two programmes for the funeral of Jennifer Blakely that had taken place earlier that day. Jennifer was a keen member of the Club over the past15 years, coming along on many Sunday afternoon walks and Club social events. She lost a battle with cancer at the age of 64, and is now enjoying her new disease and pain-free life in Heaven thanks to her faith in Jesus Christ.